The testas of the seeds of five legumes, Abrus precatorius L Arachis hypogea L., Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp, Calliandra portoricensis (Jacq) Bth and Phaseous vulgaris L were extracted with ethanol and tested for antibacterial properties by the agar diffusion method on some bacteria. All the testa extracts, except that of A. precatorlous, Inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. while Pseudomonas aeroglnosa was completely resistant to all the extracts. Extracts from P. vulgaris inhibited the growth of both gram-posltlve and gram-negative bacteria. The constituents of the extracts were shown to be saponlns, tannls, fats and oils, alkaloids, phenol and cardiac glycosldes. It is suggested that seed testas of plants deserve more extensive examination for possible exploitation for ethnomedicinal uses.
